The talks on Nagorno-Karabakh peace process reached a critical stage, thus the necessity of OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs’ arrival to the region emerged, Russian Co-Chair Yuri Merzlyakov stated in Stepanakert on March 28.

Co-chairs’ 1.5-hour meeting with NKR leadership was fruitful. According to Merzlyakov, the coordination of co-chairs last proposal is currently in the process.

On the whole, the parties reached an agreement on Madrid Principles, except for 4 provisions. Armenian side dissented from some of them, but they are not inclined to complicate the situation, Merzlyakov said. “Two years ago the situation around Madrid Principles was similar, when Armenian side accepted them, but as it turned out now not entirely, whereas Azerbaijani side opposed, and we worked hard to come to a consensus,” RFE/RL quotes Merzlyakov.

As reported previously, March 29, OSCE MG Chairs arrive in Yerevan. They will meet with RA President Serzh Sargsyan and Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian.

L.A.